Religious and Spiritual Life
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life seeks to support students who wish to deepen or explore spirituality during their time at Whitman College.
We are a resource for established religious groups on campus and work with students from under-represented religious traditions who are looking to form a community. We also provide programming which explores the important relationship between faith and learning—the connection between mind and spirit.
Finding Spiritual Community on Campus
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life serves people of all faith traditions. We also welcome those who are exploring spirituality, but do not identify with any particular religious tradition. Several established student groups provide space for community amongst your peers:
- Catholic Community on Campus
- InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
- Kehillat-Shalom
- Muslim Student Association
- South Asian Students Association
- Zen Meditation Club
Looking to find spiritual community outside of campus? There are many Christian and non-Christian places of worship within a short distance from campus.
All Faiths Room
The All Faiths Room (pictured above) is located in Room 110 of Reid Campus Center and serves as an important space for students to gather in faith. It is part of a campuswide initiative of Inclusive Excellence that aims to build community and provide a space for students of all spiritual identities. The space provides a place of worship, prayer, meditation and reflection for members of the various religious and spiritual groups on campus as well as individual students hoping to use the space on their own spiritual journey.
When not otherwise in use, the All Faiths Room is available Monday–Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The room can also be reserved by contacting the Interfaith Chaplain.
The All Faiths Room is a shared religious and spiritual space to be used by individuals or groups for prayer, fellowship, worship, meditation and all other spiritual activities. Upon finishing using the room, please return it to the way it was found.
Pastoral Support
The Interfaith Chaplain is available for confidential pastoral counseling and support to individuals regarding any number of concerns which may include spiritual growth, values, personal crisis, relationship concerns or grief. The office welcomes individuals whose concerns may arise from issues of ethnicity, religious faith, sexual orientation, social class, gender, race or family history.
In some cases, care might best be provided by the Counseling Center, in which case a referral will be made.
Religious Accommodations
Whitman College strives to acknowledge and embrace religious diversity on campus. In some instances, religious observances may conflict with scheduled exams, assignments or required class attendance. In accordance with RCW 28B.137.010, teaching faculty will provide without penalty reasonable accommodations for all students who contact their faculty within the first two weeks of class about their need for religious accommodations in that term. In their syllabi, faculty will explain this policy and/or include a link to this page.
Should a conflict with regard to accommodating a religious observance arise which cannot be resolved by the student and faculty member, it should be referred to the Department Chair. If it cannot be resolved at the departmental level, it should be referred to the Dean of the Faculty.
Given that the accommodation request process can be intimidating for some, students can, at any time, contact their academic advisor or Whitman’s Interfaith Chaplain for support in making this request.
If a faculty member fails to abide by the college’s Religious Accommodations policy, a Bias Incident Report and/or Grievance can be pursued to resolve the matter and secure compliance with Washington State law.